CHAPTER FOUR

CAMILLA

I reported to work in the evening weak and weary as if I had seen a ghost. Clara welcomed me with her warm hug at the entrance and served me a cup of green tea, known for its stress relieving property. She left it by my side, and I drank it gratefully, feeling tension seep out of my body.

The diner seemed strangely quiet, so different from weekends when it was abuzz from morning till night. I was working the evening shift as usual during the week; on weekends, I worked a day shift.

"Camilla!" I heard the voice beside me and looking around, I saw Little Aria, one of the VIP kids, rushing toward me. I couldn't help but smile as she hugged me tight. Aria had been coming to the Diner for nearly a year since I started working there. It was that day that her nanny, Maria, brought her, and she indulged in what I offered her: my signature ice cream and cookies. With a baker dad, I poured my special touches into the cookies. From then on, Aria grew to be a regular who brought smiles to my face every weekend.

"…… and here is your Camilla special bowl of ice cream and cookies." "Thank you, Camilla" she kissed me while I was serving her and was so relieving. She is the only person who has never felt disgusted by my scar.

A mean kid can mistreat you but a sweet one can treat you with so much kindness. I had not met many kind kids, but I met little Aria. There was a day I was serving at a table where this kid sat with her momma, and just when she saw my scar, she flipped a bowl of ice cream on my face. Get your scary face from here, dumb. Her mother also asked why I did not use a face mask, but that was because I had just finished working in the kitchen and I had forgotten to put it on.

You're welcome Aria, I kissed her cheek back which made her grin happily.

It is in this regard that the words of Maria penetrated deep inside me just to confirm what I had had a hunch about: Aria had been visiting the diner to see me and not to eat the ice cream and cookies. It warmed my heart to know I held such a special place in her life.

As Maria spoke further, she mentioned Aria preferred my treats, which were more divine than those they had bought from the store, foreign ones kept at home; it couldn't keep me from being slightly curious about Aria's family situation. The problems of my life, though, pressed upon me heavily, and I just couldn't take it in myself to meddle too much in Aria's business. Yet, deep inside, there was a connection I could not overlook, with her reminding me of myself growing up without parental backup.

My mind flashed back to the pub that I used to work for. The pay there was three times what I earned in the diner; however, the boss there was a real pervert, kept making sexual insinuations towards me and pressured me for sex. I couldn't work in such a toxic environment. Pressing my lips together tightly, I ran my hand through my hair, feeling the stress building. The one heavily playing on my mind was the debt I had to repay to Mr. Collins in less than two weeks. I needed to find a high-paying job right away. Although I had applied for many high-paying part-time jobs online, I hadn't received any feedback yet. I sighed deeply; frustration and desperation made my heart ache.

I didn't know Aria was looking at me. Our eyes met, and I looked away sharply, but she called out to me. "Camilla, are you sad? she asked with her innocent voice." I sighed before a genuine smile escaped my lips. I crouched down in front of her.

“Yes, I am a little sad these days," I shrugged.”

"Is it money? I heard from the maids at home when they said the only thing that can make an adult sad is money." I have lots of money in my account, if you want I can give all to you. Grandpa and Dad will send another one to me.

What a sweet girl you are, Aria. So thoughtful, I gave her a tight hug. I looked at Maria, and we both smiled. I don't need money, baby girl, besides the money is for you. If I take all your money, how will you come and patronize me next time? If you don't come again, I will feel sad. I peeked at her cheek, and we both laughed.

She threw herself into my arms and clung to me."Are you happy now?" She said, as she clung to me.

I'm so happy right now. Aria, thank you for giving me a reason to smile. Look at this. I'm smiling so big because you actually did give me a reason to smile.

Then Aria went back to her seat and finished up the cookies and ice cream. She ensured she had another kiss on my cheek and a tight hug before finally leaving for the day.

Now, I was busy calculating the total sale, and Clara was tidying up so we could bring out another menu. Just then, Mark walked into the diner and signaled for my attention, but I acted as if I didn't see him.

Camilla, I want that watch which I gave you the other time. Olivia liked it, and we couldn't get a hold of it any longer in the store. I checked in Amazon; it wasn't uploaded there, too. He screamed, and his voice echoed through the diner. Just when I thought all about him had been shameless, this was just the peak of his shameful act.

I dashed towards him, but couldn't splash the cold water in his face because of the CCTV, which could cause me to loose my job. They wouldn't know he's not a customer but just one annoying jerk, and I can't afford to lose my job these days. I looked for the watch; it had been inside my regular bag since the last day I wore it for the anniversary. I shouted back at him, “What annoying jerk in his right sense would want to come and collect the gift he gave to his previous girlfriend just because his recent girlfriend wanted it? If so, before you get it, please go and bring all the shirts and jeans I ordered from Zara for you and make sure they're as new as I bought them,” I shouted back loudly at him. These left him with red-faced, and he left hurriedly from the diner. Few people remaining at the diner laughed loudly at him.